Savor the tranquility of water and earth.
Relax your mind at the foot of the Northern Alps.
Azumino is a plateau that has long been a haven for mountaineers, travelers, and artists.
On the first day, let's be embraced by the grandeur of the Northern Alps and listen to the rhythm of the earth.
A gentle breeze blows, and clear water flows through the fields.
In the crisp, clear air, try to gently harmonize with the nature that is here and now.
DAY01
11:30 / Lunch
Daio Wasabi Farm |
Enjoy the pure taste of real wasabi by the clear stream.
Vast wasabi fields where snowmelt from the Northern Alps emerges as groundwater. The kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot) prepared with spring water and topped with freshly grated real wasabi offers a refined sweetness beneath its spiciness. The refreshing aroma nurtured by the gentle murmur of the clear stream foreshadows the beginning of your journey through Azumino.
13:00 / Walk
Alps Azumino National Park, Horikane/Hotaka Area |
A pristine landscape painted by mountain ridges and rice fields.
Nestled at the foot of the Northern Alps, this vast national park is a tapestry of rice fields and rolling hills. From tulip fields in spring, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in autumn, and illuminations in winter, take a leisurely stroll through the ever-changing scenery.
16:00 / Arrival
AZUMINO KOGEN RESORT |
A mountain inn nestled among pine trees
Nestled quietly amidst a pine forest at the foot of the Northern Alps AZUMINO KOGEN RESORT. In summer, the refreshing sunlight filtering through the trees welcomes you, while in winter, the white snow-capped mountains outside the windows offer a serene farewell. Gently undress in our newly renovated reception area.
16:30 / Twilight
Karasugawa Valley Green Space |
The riverbank at dusk, filled with the sound of water.
Emerging from the pine forest, we arrive at the Karasugawa Valley as dusk approaches. In summer, the sound of water echoes in the shade of the trees, and in winter, a clear stream rushes through the snow. Wind, water, and the sounds of birds. Indulge in the luxury of fully savoring this space filled only with these things.
18:30 / Dinner
Live Kitchen |
A buffet dinner woven from water and land.
A buffet featuring ingredients nurtured by the water and land of Azumino. Enjoy dishes such as Sanzoku-yaki (grilled chicken), Shinshu salmon, and real wasabi ice cream. Savor dishes prepared right before your eyes by the chef, paired with local sake and wine.
21:00 / Relax
Public bath |
Two bathhouses to soothe your mind and body.
One bathhouse is filled with the scent of cypress wood, while the other is a stately stone-built bathhouse. If possible, try both. The hot spring water, drawn directly from the Nakabusa Valley, will gently melt away the fatigue of your journey. When you feel a little warm, head to the semi-open-air bath with a view of the Northern Alps.
Driven by curiosity,
A day to encounter the sensibilities of Azumino.
The second day of our journey, which began with a morning mist, was spent following our curiosity.
Sunlight filtering through the trees and birdsong, water and vibrant colors, mountain ridges and the rich flavor of the earth. Azumino's landscape is so incredibly rich.
Each encounter with a landscape gently awakens a sense of the extraordinary.
DAY02
07:00 / Morning
Walking path |
I take a deep breath in the morning mist of the forest.
Drawn in by the chirping of birds, I head out onto a sun-dappled walking path. In summer, the scent of grass wet with morning dew gently awakens my senses; in winter, the crisp, sharp air awakens them. In the sunlight pouring down from the mountain valleys, I begin by taking a slow, deep breath.
08:30 / Breakfast
Buffet |
Breakfast table with a view of the Alps
Breakfast is a buffet featuring approximately 30 kinds of Japanese and Western dishes. Fluffy pancakes and waffles, and for those who prefer Japanese food, there are fragrant, crispy grilled rice balls. It's a breakfast in the Northern Alps that can only be truly satisfying with a buffet.
11:00 / Art
Azumino Chihiro Art Museum |
A pure world painted by a paintbrush
Come and encounter the works of Chihiro Iwasaki, the picture book illustrator who called Azumino her "spiritual home." The blurring watercolors, the innocent gazes of children—the gentle world spun by her brushstrokes may awaken your own inherent sensibilities that are usually dormant.
13:00 / Lunch
Soba restaurants in Azumino
The scent of the earth, the refreshing taste of a clear stream.
For lunch, enjoy refreshing soba noodles made with the pure spring water of the Northern Alps. The texture is like a crystal-clear stream. With each bite, the robust aroma of the soba expands. This is a bowl that encapsulates the bounty of the land.
15:00 / Sauna
Sauna and outdoor relaxation |
The mountain breeze invites you to the ultimate state of "perfect harmony."
A dry sauna with an automatic löyly function and a mist sauna that gently envelops your skin. After warming your body to the core, refresh yourself further with some fresh air outside. Your mind and body will become calm and clear. Experience a moment of deep relaxation that you can never experience in everyday life.
17:30 / Play
Play area |
Returning to one's childlike innocence, one indulges in play.
Before dinner, head to the play area inside the hotel. Cheers erupt in excitement during ping pong rallies and the joy and disappointment of hitting the darts target. Adults and children alike enjoy the simple pleasure of playing together without a care in the world. As you laugh together about who won and who lost, your appetite will surely be completely satisfied.
20:00 / Dinner
Live Kitchen |
A rustic evening dinner
After a day of fun, it was time for the much-anticipated dinner. We savored rustic dishes such as authentic churrasco, where the meat was carved right in front of us, and grilled river fish skewers cooked over an open hearth. The rich flavors of Shinshu slowly permeated our empty stomachs.
The memories of the land,
I will engrave it in my memory as a lingering memory of the trip.
Two days spent slowly regaining harmony with nature.
To savor the lingering feeling, I tried to keep the morning of the final day as calm as possible.
The summer breeze blowing across the countryside, the gleaming snow-covered mountains—with such a clear gaze, we re-examine our everyday lives.
DAY03
08:30 / Morning
Terrace seating |
The aroma of coffee lingers, a reminder of the journey.
On the morning of departure, there's no need to rush. That, too, is part of the etiquette of travel. First, enjoy a freshly brewed coffee on the terrace. Today, we'll say goodbye to the beautiful mountain range visible beyond the steam. This moment of regret will create an irreplaceable lingering memory.
10:00 / Departure
Gift shop/Front counter |
To whom shall I pass on the memories of my journey?
Before completing the final check-in procedures, I headed to the gift shop next to the front counter. Souvenirs are like fragments of travel memories. I wondered who I should give them to. As I pondered this, it was finally time to say goodbye to my lodging in the Northern Alps.
11:00 / Pray
Hotaka Shrine |
To stand firm in a thousand-year history
On your way back to your daily life, stop by Hotaka Shrine, revered as the guardian shrine of the Japanese Alps. The moment you pass through the torii gate, you'll feel the air subtly change. As you clasp your hands together in the serene silence, the memories of the past three days and a thousand years of history will intertwine, transcending time.
13:00 / Heritage
Rokuyama Museum of Art｜
Conversing with silent sculptures that have no words.
We visited a church-like museum covered in ivy. Rokuzan, who died prematurely at the age of 30, left behind only 15 sculptures. Yet each and every one of them still deeply resonates with the viewer. It was a moment where the sensibilities cultivated in Azumino deeply resonated with the weight of art.
14:30 / Drive
Return journey |
With the mountain ridge at my back, I return to my everyday life.
The reflection of the rice fields in the water shrinks, and the Northern Alps recede behind us. The five senses, awakened day by day, must now reside in the hands gripping the steering wheel. The coolness of the spring water, the tranquility of the shrine, the delicacy of the paintbrush, the weight of the sculpture. When these things blend together, the familiar everyday life may appear slightly different.
